Safety syringe needle device with interchangeable and retractable needle platform

Abstract

This invention relates to a safety syringe needle device which has medical and industrial application. More particularly, this invention pertains to a syringe which, after being used by a person to inject medication or fluid into a patient, or in sampling or exposure to toxic materials, or the like, can be transformed by the person to withdraw the needle into the barrel of the syringe for disposal purposes, thereby eliminating needle stick injuries among such persons. A syringe comprising (a) a hollow elongated barrel means; (b) penetration means which is adapted to removably engage with an end of the barrel means; (c) plunger means adapted to fit within and move axially in the hollow barrel means; the plunger means causing a pumping action within the interior of the barrel means between the plunger means and the end of the barrel means when the plunger means is pushed into the interior of the barrel means in the direction of the end of the barrel means; and (d) engaging means at the end of the plunger means proximate to the penetration means, the engaging means being adapted to engage the end of the penetration means when the plunger means is fully inserted into the interior of the barrel means in the direction of the end of the barrel means and cause the penetrating means to part from the end of the barrel means and to be withdrawn into the interior of the barrel when the plunger means is withdrawn away from the end of the barrel means.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A syringe comprising: (a) a hollow, axially-elongated barrel;   (b) an adapter carried by said barrel adjacent the needle end thereof and removable therefrom in response to rotation relative to the barrel, the adapter having a central fluid passage and adapted for removable coupling to a hollow needle;   (c) a plunger axially movable in the hollow barrel; and   (d) adapter engagement structure disposed at the needle end of the plunger and engageable with a mating connection engagement structure on the adapter, said structures being engageable to enable subsequent rotation of the adapter relative to the barrel in response to relative rotation of the plunger and barrel, after substantially full axial insertion of said plunger in said barrel engages the plunger and adapter one with the other, thus enabling the adapter and any attached needle to be removed from the end of the barrel and to be withdrawn into the interior of the barrel when the plunger is rotated in a given direction and the plunger is withdrawn from the needle end of the barrel,   said plunger including a needle end portion and an opposite end portion, said opposite end portion including connection structure at its distal end sized and designed to cooperate with complementary connection structure included at the needle end of said barrel;   said plunger further including intermediate structure for detachably connecting said needle end and opposite end portions;   whereby said opposite end portion of the plunger can be detached, and connected to the needle end of the barrel when the plunger has been withdrawn from the needle end of the barrel whether or not a needle connected to said engagement mechanism extends from said barrel.   
     
     
       2. A syringe as in claim 1 wherein said engagement structures of the plunger and adapter include respective engagement surfaces which engage when the plunger is rotated in said given direction but disengage when the plunger is rotated in a direction opposite to said given direction, whereby the adapter once disengaged from the barrel cannot be re-engaged by use of said engagement structures. 
     
     
       3. A syringe as in claim 1 wherein said engagement structures of the plunger and adapter include, respectively, resilient ridges and a groove for releasably engaging said plunger and adapter after substantially full axial insertion of said plunger in said barrel. 
     
     
       4. A syringe as in claim 1 further including a bung on said needle end portion of said plunger, said bung having a surface portion at an interface with a fluid containing portion of said syringe that is radially linear. 
     
     
       5. A syringe as in claim 4 wherein the coloration of said bung and said plunger are substantially the same. 
     
     
       6. The syringe of claim 4 further including calibration markings on said barrel and wherein the colors of said bung and said markings are contrasting. 
     
     
       7. The syringe of claim 5 further including calibration markings on said barrel and wherein the colors of said bung and said markings are contrasting. 
     
     
       8. A syringe as in claim 1 further including a needle guard releasably and sealingly connected to the needle end of said barrel. 
     
     
       9. A syringe as in claim 1 further including a seal structure on the inside surface of the barrel and a mating seal structure on the outside surface of said plunger opposite end portion. 
     
     
       10. A syringe as in claim 8 further including a seal structure on the inside surface of the barrel and a mating seal structure on the outside surface of said plunger opposite end portion whereby the seal provided by the needle guard and seal structure at the distal end of the barrel and plunger is sufficient to maintain sterile conditions within the syringe between the seals until the syringe is used.   
     
     
       11. A syringe as in claim 8 further including a seal structure on the inside surface of the barrel and a mating seal structure on the outside surface of said plunger opposite end portion whereby the seal provided by the needle guard and the seal structure at the distal end of the barrel and plunger are sufficient to prevent the ingress and egress of contaminants from or to the syringe interior.   
     
     
       12. A syringe as in claim 10 wherein the seal structure at the distal end of the barrel and plunger includes at least two adjacent annular ridges forming a groove therebetween and at least one opposing annular ridge whereby the opposing ridge sealingly engages said groove after substantially full axial insertion of said plunger in said barrel. 
     
     
       13. A syringe as in claim 11 wherein the seal structure at the distal end of the barrel and plunger includes at least two adjacent annular ridges forming a groove therebetween and at least one annular ridge on the outside of said plunger opposite end portion whereby the ridge on the plunger sealingly engages said groove after substantially full axial insertion of said plunger in said barrel. 
     
     
       14. A syringe as in claim 10 wherein the seal structure at the distal end of the barrel and plunger includes an annular groove in the inside surface of the barrel and an annular ridge on the outside surface of said plunger, said annular ridge in sealing engagement with said groove after substantially full axial insertion of said plunger in said barrel. 
     
     
       15. A syringe as in claim 1 wherein said plunger needle end portion adjacent said intermediate structure includes at least two resilient arms extending from said plunger toward said barrel and resiliently compressed by said barrel, and wherein said barrel includes an annular groove at its distal end, whereby the ends of said arms engage said groove when said plunger opposite end portion is withdrawn from the barrel so that the plunger needle end portion and any attachment thereto are retained in the withdrawn position.   
     
     
       16. A syringe as in claim 15 further including a bung on said plunger needle end portion for providing sealing engagement between said plunger and said barrel whereby after use and with the plunger withdrawn toxic or contaminated contents may be sealed within the syringe by attaching the plunger opposite end portion or a needle guard to the needle end of the barrel. 
     
     
       17. A syringe as in claim 1 wherein said plunger needle end portion adjacent said intermediate structure includes a lip radially extending in close proximity to said barrel, and wherein said barrel includes at least two raised annular ridges on its inside surface whereby said lip is retained adjacent the innermost of the two ridges when said plunger opposite end portion is withdrawn from the barrel so that the plunger needle end portion and any attachment thereto are retained in the withdrawn position.   
     
     
       18. A syringe as in claim 17 further including a bung on said plunger needle end portion for providing sealing engagement said plunger and said barrel whereby after use and with the plunger withdrawn toxic or contaminated contents may be sealed within the syringe by attaching the plunger opposite end portion or a needle guard to the needle end of the barrel. 
     
     
       19. A syringe having an elongated plunger movable within a barrel toward and away from a needle end of the barrel and a multiple engagement mechanism disposed at said needle end for forming detachable connections with a needle, said barrel and said plunger, said plunger further comprising: a needle end portion and an opposite end portion, said opposite end portion including connection structure sized and designed to cooperate with complementary connection structure included at the needle end of said barrel;   said plunger further including intermediate structure for detachably connecting said needle end and opposite end portions;   whereby said opposite end portion of the plunger can be detached and connected to the needle end of the barrel when the plunger has been withdrawn from the needle end of the barrel whether or not a needle connected to said engagement mechanism extends from said barrel.   
     
     
       20. A syringe as in claim 19 further including a bung on said needle end portion of said plunger, said bung having a surface portion at an interface with a fluid containing portion of said syringe that is radially linear. 
     
     
       21. A syringe as in claim 20 wherein the coloration of said bung and said plunger are substantially the same. 
     
     
       22. The syringe of claim 20 further including calibration markings on said barrel and wherein the colors of said bung and said markings are contrasting. 
     
     
       23. The syringe of claim 21 further including calibration markings on said barrel and wherein the colors of said bung and said markings are contrasting. 
     
     
       24. A syringe as in claim 19 further including a needle guard releasably and sealingly connected to the needle end of said barrel. 
     
     
       25. A syringe as in claim 19 further including a seal structure on the inside surface of the barrel and a mating seal structure on the outside surface of said plunger opposite end portion. 
     
     
       26. A syringe as in claim 24 further including a seal structure on the inside surface of the barrel and a mating seal structure on the outside surface of said plunger opposite end portion, whereby the seals provided by the needle guard and seal structure at the distal end of the barrel and plunger are sufficient to maintain sterile conditions within the syringe between the sealed until the syringe is used.   
     
     
       27. A syringe as in claim 24 further including a seal structure on the inside surface of the barrel and a mating seal structure on the outside surface of said plunger opposite end portion, whereby the seals provided by the needle guard and the seal structure at the distal end of the barrel and plunger are sufficient to prevent the ingress and egress of contaminants from or to the syringe interior.   
     
     
       28. A syringe as in claim 26 wherein the seal structure at the distal end of the barrel and plunger includes at least two adjacent annular ridges forming a groove therebetween and at least one opposing annular ridge whereby the opposing ridge sealingly engages said groove after substantially full axial insertion of said plunger in said barrel. 
     
     
       29. A syringe as in claim 27 wherein the seal structure at the distal end of the barrel and plunger includes at least two adjacent annular ridges forming a groove therebetween and at least one annular ridge on the outside of said plunger opposite end portion whereby the ridge on the plunger sealingly engages said groove after substantially full axial insertion of said plunger in said barrel. 
     
     
       30. A syringe as in claim 26 wherein the seal structure at the distal end of the barrel and plunger includes an annular groove in the inside surface of the barrel and an annular ridge on the outside surface of said plunger, said annular ridge in sealing engagement with said groove after substantially full axial insertion of said plunger in said barrel. 
     
     
       31. A syringe as in claim 19 wherein said plunger needle end portion adjacent said intermediate structure includes at least two resilient arms extending from said plunger toward said barrel and resiliently compressed by said barrel, and wherein said barrel includes an annular groove at its distal end, whereby the ends of said arms engage said groove when said plunger opposite end portion is withdrawn from the barrel so that the plunger needle end portion and any attachment thereto are retained in the withdrawn position.   
     
     
       32. A syringe as in claim 31 further including a bung on said plunger needle end portion for providing sealing engagement between said plunger and said barrel whereby after use and with the plunger withdrawn toxic or contaminated contents may be sealed within the syringe by attaching the plunger opposite end portion or a needle guard to the needle end of the barrel. 
     
     
       33. A syringe as in claim 19 wherein said plunger needle end portion adjacent said intermediate structure includes a lip radially extending in close proximity to said barrel, and wherein said barrel includes at least two raised annular ridges on its inside surface whereby said lip is retained adjacent the innermost of the two ridges when said plunger opposite end portion is withdrawn from the barrel so that the plunger needle end portion and any attachment thereto are retained in the withdrawn position.   
     
     
       34. A syringe as in claim 33 further including a bung on said plunger needle end portion for providing sealing engagement between said plunger and said barrel whereby after use and with the plunger withdrawn toxic or contaminated contents may be sealed within the syringe by attaching the plunger opposite end portion or a needle guard to the needle end of the barrel. 
     
     
       35. A syringe comprising: a hollow, axially-elongated barrel having a needle end and an opposite end;   an adapter removably mounted at the needle end of said barrel having a central fluid passage adapted for removable coupling to a hollow needle;   an elongated plunger having a needle end portion and an opposite end portion and being axially movable in the hollow barrel;   an adaptor engagement structure disposed at the needle end of the plunger and engageable with a mating connection engagement structure on the adapter in response to axial movement of the plunger toward the needle end of the barrel, said structures being cooperable, upon engagement, to cause relative rotation of the plunger and the adapter in response to such axial movement and to cause the adapter and any needle attached thereto to part from the end of the barrel in response to subsequent relative rotation of the plunger and the barrel and to be withdrawn into the interior of the barrel when the plunger is withdrawn from the distal end of the barrel;   said opposite end portion of said plunger including connection structure sized and designed to cooperate with complementary connection structure included at the needle end of said barrel; and   said plunger further including intermediate structure for detachably connecting said needle end and opposite end portions whereby said opposite end portion of the plunger when it is withdrawn from the needle end of the barrel can be detached and connected to the barrel needle end whether or not said adapter and attached needle have been withdrawn into the barrel interior.   
     
     
       36. A syringe as in claim 35 wherein said engagement structures of the plunger and adapter include respective engagement surfaces which engage when the plunger is rotated in said given direction but disengage when the plunger is rotated in a direction opposite to said given direction, whereby the adapter once disengaged from the barrel cannot be re-engaged by use of said engagement structures. 
     
     
       37. A syringe as in claim 35 wherein said engagement structures of the plunger and adapter include, respectively, resilient ridges and a groove for releasably engaging said plunger and adapter after substantially full axial insertion of said plunger in said barrel. 
     
     
       38. A syringe having a plunger movable within a barrel toward and away from a needle end of the barrel and a multiple engagement mechanism disposed at said needle end for forming detachable connections with a needle, said barrel and said plunger, said plunger further comprising: a needle end portion and an opposite end portion, said opposite end portion including connection structure sized and designed to cooperate with complementary connection structure included at the needle end of said barrel;   said plunger further including intermediate structure for detachably connecting said needle end and opposite end portions;   whereby said opposite end portion of the plunger is connectable to the barrel needle end both before and after the syringe is used and connectable to the plunger needle end portion during syringe use.   
     
     
       39. A syringe as in claim 38 wherein said plunger intermediate structure includes a rectilinear releasable locking mechanism, whereby said needle end and opposite end plunger portions rotate as a unit when connected and are reconnectable after detachment. 
     
     
       40. A syringe as in claim 38 wherein said intermediate structure includes complementary mating surfaces for releasably locking said needle end and opposite end plunger portions to rotate as a unit. 
     
     
       41. A syringe as in claim 38 wherein said intermediate structure automatically releases said opposite end plunger portion when said opposite end portion is withdrawn from the barrel. 
     
     
       42. A syringe comprising: a hollow, axially-elongated barrel;   an adapter removably mounted at the distal end of said barrel and having a central fluid passage;   a ferrule carrying a hollow needle and adapted for removable connection with the adapter adjacent the barrel end, with the hollow needle in communication with the central fluid passage of the adapter;   a plunger axially movable in the hollow barrel;   an adapter engagement structure disposed at the distal end of the plunger and engageable with a mating connection engagement structure on the adapter in response to axial movement of the plunger toward the distal end of the barrel, said structures being cooperable to cause (1) relative rotation of the plunger end and the adapter in response to such axial movement, and (2) the adapter and needle ferrule with the needle attached thereto part from the end of the barrel in response to subsequent relative rotation of the plunger and the barrel, thereby enabling the adapter and the needle ferrule with the needle attached thereto be withdrawn into the interior of the barrel when the plunger is withdrawn from the distal end of the barrel, leaving the distal end of the barrel open; and   means cooperable with said distal end of said barrel for closing said open end thereof.   
     
     
       43. A syringe according to claim 42 wherein said means for closing said open barrel end includes at the opposite end of said plunger from said distal end thereof connection structure sized and designed for cooperation with complementary connection structure at the distal end of said barrel, said plunger further including intermediate structure for detachably connecting said opposite end of said plunger and said distal end thereof whereby said opposite end of the plunger can be detached and connected to the distal end of said barrel when the adapter and the needle ferrule, with the needle attached thereto, have been withdrawn into the interior of the barrel. 
     
     
       44. A syringe according to claim 43 wherein the connection structure at the opposite end of the plunger and the distal end of said barrel includes complementary female and male threads. 
     
     
       45. A syringe comprising: a hollow, axially-elongated barrel;   an adapter carried by said barrel adjacent the distal end thereof and removable therefrom in response to rotation relative to the barrel, the adapter having a central fluid passage and adapted for removable coupling to a hollow needle;   a plunger axially movable in the hollow barrel;   adapter engagement structure disposed at the distal end of the plunger and engageable with a mating connection engagement structure on the adapter, said structures having alignment, drive and connective pairs of respective engagement surfaces, said alignment pair of surfaces being engageable and relatively movable to align and engage said drive surfaces one with the other thereby to enable subsequent rotation of the adapter relative to the barrel in response to relative rotation of the plunger and barrel, said connective surfaces being engageable response to substantially full axial insertion of said plunger in said barrel to connect the plunger and adapter one with the other, enabling the adapter and any attached needle to part from the end of the barrel and to be withdrawn into the interior of the barrel when the plunger is withdrawn from the distal end of the barrel, leaving said distal end of said barrel open; and   means cooperable with said distal end of said barrel for closing said open end thereof.   
     
     
       46. A syringe according to claim 45 wherein said means for closing said open barrel end includes at the opposite end of said plunger from said distal end thereof connection structure sized and designed for cooperation with complementary connection structure at the distal end of said barrel, said plunger further including intermediate structure for detachably connecting said opposite end of said plunger and said distal end thereof whereby said opposite end of the plunger can be detached and connected to the distal end of said barrel when the adapter and the needle ferrule, with the needle attached thereto, have been withdrawn into the interior of the barrel. 
     
     
       47. A syringe according to claim 46 wherein the connection structure at the opposite end of the plunger and the distal end of said barrel includes complementary female and male threads. 
     
     
       48. A syringe according to claim 1 wherein the connection structure at the opposite end of the plunger and the needle end of said barrel includes complementary female and male threads. 
     
     
       49. A syringe according to claim 19 wherein the connection structure at the opposite end of the plunger and the needle end of said barrel includes complementary female and male threads. 
     
     
       50. A syringe according to claim 35 wherein the connection structure at the opposite end of the plunger and the needle end of said barrel includes complementary female and male threads. 
     
     
       51. A syringe according to claim 38 wherein the connection structure at the opposite end of the plunger and the needle and of said barrel includes complementary female and male threads.